Just The Facts
The Murray State football team led the third-ranked Jacksonville State Gamecocks, 13-7, after one quarter of play Saturday at Burgess-Snow Field in Jacksonville, Alabama.. However, the Racers were unable to sustain their lead and fell, 59-23.
How It Happened
The Racers led after the first quarter thanks to two big defensive plays from D’Montre Wade and Sean Rodriguez. Wade picked off his sixth pass of the season which led to a 20-yard strike from Shuler Bentley to Jordon Gandy. Rodriguez followed later in the quarter by picking up a fumble and running it back 47 yards for the 13-7 lead.
The lead did not last long as JSU scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to lead the Racers 28-13 at the half. At the start of the fourth quarter, MSU scored 10 points inside of a minute to cut the lead to 38-23 with 12:40 to play. However, that would be as close as Murray State would get, as Jacksonville State closed out the game with 21 answered point for the 59-23 win.
About The Gamecocks
Jacksonville State picked up their 30th straight OVC win thanks in large part to holding Murray State to a school-record -3 rushing yards, while amassing five touchdowns on 323 rushing yards of its own. Roc Thomas led the JSU rushing attack with 138 yards and two touchdowns, while Bryant Horne was 12-of-25 passing for 137 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Gandy Moves Up
Jordon Gandy had two touchdowns in the game on seven catches for 76 yards. With his two touchdowns Saturday, Gandy is now tied for fourth all-time in career touchdowns with 21 with Marcus Harris.
Elite Company
With his sixth interception of the season Saturday, D’Montre Wade became just seventh player in MSU history to record at least six picks in a single-season and the first since Onsha Whitaker in 2004. He is now ninth all-time in career interceptions with 10.
Defense Doing It Big
Entering the game ranked seventh in the FCS in turnovers gained, the Murray State defense added four to its tally Saturday for 25 on the year. All 23 points scored by the Racers against JSU came as a direct result of turnovers.
Punting Into The Stratton-sphere
Landon Stratton punted the ball a school-record 13 times Saturday for an average of 47.4 yards. The redshirt-junior had a long punt of 60 yards, just one touchback and pinned the Gamecocks inside their own 20-yard line four times. The 13 punts breaks the previous record set by Matt Garrett against BYU in 1998 and Stratton himself last season against Jax State.
OK, What’s Next?
The Racers return home for the final time in 2017 to take on Tennessee Tech. Kickoff for the season-finale at Roy Stewart Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Parker Griffith
Athletic Media Relations Assistant (FB, Rifle, SB)
Murray State University
